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I wear a hakama in Iaido and, yes, occasionally around the house. In my Aikido dojo, as a mere yonkyu I don't get to wear one.

It used to be the case that the hakama seemed like a big deal to me. Something elite to strive for. Now I see that it's no big deal.

Personally, I am one of the believers in the 'everyone should wear a hakama' philosophy, but having worn one for other arts, I'm no longer awed by the garment; I'd be happy to train in a simple gi forever, if my dojo required so.

"Never escalate a battle unless forced to do so by your enemy" - Zordon

I has read in some places in internet, that the real mean of the hakama is the respect that ueshiba sensei all the time inculcated to his students, I think that the hakama has nothing to do with the range that we have, is the respect toward the aikido

In the club I am studying in in Japan, the girls wear the hakama after about 3 months of training and the guys don't wear it until they reach the 1st dan. I was really excited to be told that I could wear it when I hit that 3 month marker but then I continued to trip over it and the piece in the back hurts my back when I do ukemi. I am a klutz in general so adding to my klutziness is not a good idea I think.

Yea I am not awed by it so much anymore also. For me, I kind of want to go back to not wearing it until I am more proficient at the techniques and it doesn't become more of hindrance to my well being when I try to stand up and walk.

I'm going for my 5th kyu also and I ordered a hakama from Bujin Design. I asked my Sensei and he said that he doesn't ask his students to purchase one right away because they are expensive and wants to make sure that student is around for a while. This makes sense.

From what I've read, O'Sensei wanted his students to wear a hakama from the first time they got on the mat.

So, I would ask your Sensei and if he/she says yes, then the rest should be up to you....

Peace....

"Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead. "

If you are interested and are allowed, then wear one. I have no interest in wearing one until I am forced. I see it as more of a burden then anything else.

I own a traditional Scottish kilt that I have worn around on cold winters here in the middle of nowhere of Hungary! LOL! [Seriously]

Thought about wearing it awhile back on St. Patricks day for fun!
[Wouldnt want to get my kilt messy, as our mats arent the cleanest.]

But I like the ideas of having a hakama for style!

- dAlen

p.s.
Im weird like that though, have walked in the middle of Whole Foods stateside with a crystal on my head just for the heck of it... kind of fit in with the bohemian / Rasta who worked there. [no wonder I freak most Hungarian locals out] lol!

The meaning depends on the dojo. At some dojos it's considered an honor, at others it's just what everyone does. At some dojos, everyone starts wearing the hakama at a certain rank, at others they wear it after Sensei tells them to. At some dojos, Sensei says, "You may wear a hakama," at others Sensei says, "You should wear a hakama." I don't think any of us can tell you what wearing a hakama means at your dojo.

You have a kilt!?! I was very saddened because when I went to Ireland for my honeymoon I expected to see someone wearing a kilt (even if it was a kid) and no kilt in sight! You should have a photo of you in your kilt as your profile pic!

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.

So here is a question about wearing the hakama: does it hurt anyone else in the lower back region during training? Mine constantly hits me in one area on my left side when I do ukemi and today I asked my senpai if I could just take it off and train without it. I won't be able to do that for every practice but today it felt much better without it and i was able to do ukemi without any jolting pain like I get from wearing the hakama. It's the piece in the back that drives me crazy.

What do you think? I am trying to adjust it so it doesn't hit that spot it but it still hurts.

So here is a question about wearing the hakama: does it hurt anyone else in the lower back region during training? Mine constantly hits me in one area on my left side when I do ukemi and today I asked my senpai if I could just take it off and train without it. I won't be able to do that for every practice but today it felt much better without it and i was able to do ukemi without any jolting pain like I get from wearing the hakama. It's the piece in the back that drives me crazy.

What do you think? I am trying to adjust it so it doesn't hit that spot it but it still hurts.

Hello Alex,

A question related to the other thread about your forthcoming gasshuku. Are you wearing a hakama because you are a yudansha, or because the university where you train allows kyu grade students to wear it?

I myself wear an Iwata hakama with a thick wrap-round obi and have no pain at all in the lower back when taking ukemi.

Best wishes,

PAG

EDIT: I see the answer in post #7. However, I am curious about the reason.

So here is a question about wearing the hakama: does it hurt anyone else in the lower back region during training? Mine constantly hits me in one area on my left side when I do ukemi and today I asked my senpai if I could just take it off and train without it. I won't be able to do that for every practice but today it felt much better without it and i was able to do ukemi without any jolting pain like I get from wearing the hakama. It's the piece in the back that drives me crazy.

What do you think? I am trying to adjust it so it doesn't hit that spot it but it still hurts.

BuJin Design sells what they call the 'aiki' hakama which does not have the hard koshita in the back. My wife had the same problem some years ago, switched, and has been very happy with her hakama ever since. Check around your dojo and see if somebody has one so you can try it out.

Ebogu.com also puts out an Aikido hakama with a soft koshita. I own one of these as well and have recommended it to my students mainly because of the cost. Not as nearly as expernsive. I also like the fit. I recommend getting the extended himo (straps) I much prefer tieing everything in the front.